Busses for Karachi leave Chinese port

A ship carrying busses for Sindh government's public transport project lifted anchor from a port of China. The ship carrying first 50 buses is expected to drop anchor at Karachi Port within two weeks, while another vessel hauling 71 busses is scheduled to dock here in the next three weeks, said Sindh Transport Minister Syed Awais Qadir Shah.

The diesel hybrid buses will cover over 15 different routes in the six districts of Karachi.

The transport department said that total 240 buses have been allocated for Karachi city while 10 buses will be for Larkana city to overcome the public transport issues of Sindh's major cities. Shah said that last year, the department pledged to launch 250 diesel-electric hybrid buses on six different routes in the city from January 2022 but the delay occurred due to lockdowns.

It has also planned to further facilitate the citizens of other major cities of the province with improved public transport system by providing buses with the latest technology.

The minister said that keeping in view the rising demand for public transport in the port city, as many as 240 out of 250 buses will run in the city. Route chart The transport experts have designated six routes in the city. Route 1 will cover a distance of 29.5km from Model Colony to Merewether Tower via Malir Halt, Colony Gate, Natha Khan Bridge, Drigh Road Station, PAF Base Faisal, Laal Kothi, Karsaz, Nursery, FTC, Regent Plaza, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Cantt Station, Metropole, Regal Chowk and Aram Bagh. Route 2 will cover a distance of 32.9 km from North Karachi to Indus Hospital via Nagan Chowrangi, Shafiq Morr, Sohrab Goth, Gulshan Chowrangi, NIPA, Johar Morr, COD, Drigh Road Station, Colony Gate, Shah Faisal Colony, Singer Chowrangi and Landhi.

Route 3 will cover a distance of 33 km from Nagan Chowrangi to Singer Chowrangi via Anda Morr, North Nazimabad Town, KDA Chowrangi, Nazimabad Town, Liaquatabad 10, Essa Nagri, Civic Centre, National Stadium, Karsaz, Nursery, FTC, Korangi Road, KPT Interchange and Shan Chowrangi. Route 4 will run from Mosamiyat to Dock Yard, passing through Gulzaree-Hijri, Motorway M-9, AlAsif Square, Ayesha Manzil, Federal B Area, Liaquatabad No 10, Lalu Khait, Guru Mandir, Society Chowrangi, Empress Market, Sindh High Court, Arts Council, I.I. Chundrigar Road and Merewether Tower.

Route 5 will start from Surjani Town to Masroor, covering New Karachi, Shafiq Morr, KMDC, Ziauddin Chowrangi, KDA Chowrangi, Musa Colony, Mangophir, SITE Area and Gulbai. Route 6 is from Gulshane-Bihar, Orangi Town to Singer Chowrangi, via Banaras, Paposh Nagar, SITE Area, Golimar, Garden, PIB Colony, Jail Chowangi, Bahadurabad, Baloch Colony, Mehmoodabad, Manzoor Colony, DHA Phase-1, KPT Interchange and Shan Chowrangi. Buses in Larkana will cover stops from Larkana Bus Terminal to Larkana Junction, covering areas like Indus Highway, 7 Naka Bridge, Gharib Nagar, Naudero Chowk, Shahi Bazaar, Ansari Mohalla and Station Road.